SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCES

Sara Baker Netzley is a professor of journalism in the Department of Communication and the Academic Ombuds at Bradley University. She won the Bradley University First Year Faculty Award for excellence in teaching in 2005, the Academic Advisor of the Year award in 2009, and the Paul B. Snider Award for Teaching Excellence in Communication in 2011. Her leadership roles include chairing the Robison Lecture Committee and the Department Curriculum Committee. She was appointed to the AEJMC task force on careers for 2018-2019, and she headed the department’s academic program review, which concluded in 2018. At the community level, she serves on the WCBU Advisory Board. She was the associate chairperson of the Department of Communication from 2011-2016 and led the Department of Communication’s 2010-2011 overhaul of the journalism program, ushering it into the digital age. Her research is published in Newspaper Research Journal, Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, American Journalism, College Media Review, Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, Sex Roles, and The Journal of Homosexuality. She is also a freelance writer for Entertainment Weekly, and she writes romance fiction under the pen name Sara Whitney.

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Mass Communication and Media Arts

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill., 2001-2006

Dissertation: Television, Gays, and Gay Marriage: A Cultivation Study of Television’s Relationship with Opinions About Same-Sex Marriage.

Dissertation adviser: Dr. Thomas Johnson

Dissertation funding through a competitive College of Mass Communication and Media Arts Research/Creative Activity Grant for $1,000 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

M.A., Public Affairs Reporting

University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, Ill., 1999-2000 

Thesis: From Underground to Newsweeklies: How a Segment of the Alternative Press Has Aged

Thesis adviser: Ms. Mary Bohlen

B.A., Majors: Mass Communication, Political Science; Minor: Spanish

Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, 1995-1999

Graduated summa cum laude

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Professor of Communication, August 2023 – present

Associate Professor of Communication, August 2012 – July 2023

Assistant Professor of Communication, August 2004 – July 2012

Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois

Currently teaching COM 386, Media, Race and Gender; COM 300, Communication Theory; COM 307, News Feature Writing; HON 100, #FakeNews. Has taught COM 425, Advanced Reporting; COM 215, Basic Reporting; COM 201, Journalistic Writing; COM 391, Media and Political Campaigns; COM 360, Digital Journalism; COM 310, Broadcast News Reporting and Writing; and now-deleted courses COM 200, Writing for the Mass Media; and COM 302, Computer-Assisted Reporting; and honors seminars on Fake News, Depictions of Media in Dystopian Fiction, Media and Political Campaigns, and Conspiracy Theories. Frequently updates courses to remain current with trends, standards, and best practices in the industry. Created new course COM 360, Digital Journalism, in Spring 2010 to teach students how to thrive in converged newsrooms using new technology and storytelling techniques. Created new course COM 201, Journalistic Writing, in Spring 2005 to teach students the fundamentals of writing news articles. Overall duties include giving lectures, creating quizzes and exams, providing students with feedback on their writing, remaining available outside of class to respond to student questions and concerns. Also serve as an academic adviser to approximately 30 students a year.

Writing coach/graduate assistant, Daily Egyptian, Fall 2001-Summer 2003

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois

Responsible for meeting individually with new reporters to help improve their writing, compiling weekly reports correcting common errors in the Daily Egyptian, conducting weekly written critiques of the Pulse and advising students on writing, layout and ethics. Occasionally fill in for the faculty managing editor by critiquing the daily editions, leading staff meetings and attending Page One meetings.

Teaching assistant, Writing for the Mass Media, Spring 2003

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois

Responsible for overseeing a writing laboratory, outlining basics of proper newswriting, explaining assignments, reviewing grammar and punctuation rules, familiarizing students with AP style, offering feedback on student writing in class and grading assignments. Occasionally created AP style quizzes.

Supplemental instructor, Intro to American Politics, Fall 1997 & Spring 1998

Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa

Attended all meetings of PS 101, prepared and led weekly out-of-class study sessions to reinforce course content and assist students in passing the course, modeled and taught effective study strategies, served as a liaison between students and course professor.

PUBLICATIONS

Dickhaus, J.& Netzley, S. B. (Eds.). (2017). Introduction to Mass Communication: People, Platforms, and Practices. San Diego: Cognella.

Netzley, S. B. (2014). “Just hit reply: How student journalists use email in the newsroom.” College Media Review, 51, 32-43.

Bashri, M., Netzley, S. B. & Greiner, A. (2012). “Facebook Revolutions: Transitions in the Arab World, Transitions in Media Coverage? A Comparative Analysis of CNN and Al Jazeera English’s Online Coverage of the Tunisian and Egyptian Revolutions.” Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 5(1), 19-29.

Netzley, S. B. & Hemmer, M. (2012). “No Experience Necessary: The Perceived Credibility of Citizen Journalism.” Newspaper Research Journal, 33(3), 49-61.

Netzley, S. B. & Banning, S. (2011). “Tomorrow’s journalists: In-groups, out-groups and news topic preference.”  Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 66(1), 40-53. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator’s acceptance rate is between 31% and 33%.

Netzley, S. B. (2010). “Grabbing a place on the totem pole: How newspaperman H. Allen Smith learned to stop worrying and love the book business.” American Journalism, 27(1), 67-88. American Journalism’s acceptance rate is less than 20%.

Netzley, S. B. (2010). “Visibility that demystifies: Gays, gender, and sex on television.” Journal of Homosexuality, 57(8), 968-986. Journal of Homosexuality’s acceptance rate is 30%.

Ganahl, D. J., Prinsen, T. J., and Netzley, S. B. (2003). “A content analysis of prime time commercials: A contextual framework of gender representation.” Sex Roles 49, 9-10: 545-551. Sex Roles’ acceptance rate is 20%.

Ganahl, D. J., Netzley, S. B., and Kim, K. (2003). “Longitudinal analysis of gender in network commercials: How advertisers portray gender.” Media Report to Women 31, 2. Media Report to Women provides information on the way in which media depict women and issues of interest to women. It was founded in 1972 and is published quarterly.

PAPERS PRESENTED

Bashri, M., Netzley, S. B. & Greiner, A. “Reporting on the Spring: How Different Media Outlets Cover Events.” Presented at the 43^rd Annual Central Illinois World Affairs Conference sponsored by the Peoria Area World Affairs Council in Peoria, Ill., April 2013.

Bashri, M., Netzley, S. B. & Greiner, A. “Facebook Revolutions: Transitions in the Arab World, Transitions in Media Coverage? A Comparative Analysis of CNN and Al Jazeera English’s Online Coverage of the Tunisian and Egyptian Revolutions.” Presented at the Eastern Communication Association convention in April 2012.

Netzley, S. B. & Hemmer, M. “No experience necessary: The perceived credibility of citizen journalism.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2011 convention in St. Louis, Mo.

Netzley, S. B. “Just hit reply: How student journalists use e-mail in the newsroom.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2011 convention in St. Louis, Mo.

Netzley, S.B. “Social responsibility and tomorrow’s gatekeepers: How student journalists prioritize news topics.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2011 convention in St. Louis, Mo.

Netzley, S. B., “Visibility that demystifies: Gays, gender and sex on television.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2008 convention in Chicago, Illinois. Winner, second-place paper award in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group.

Netzley, S. B., “Television and gay marriage: A cultivation analysis.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2007 convention in Washington, D.C. Winner, top paper award in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group.

Young, M., & Netzley, S. B. “Marie Claire in five flavors: A look at transnational advertising.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2007 convention in Washington, D.C.

Netzley, S. B., “Gays, love, and sex on television.” Presented at the Broadcast Education Association 2007 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ganahl, D. J., Netzley, S. B., Hoon, W., and Kim, K. “Black female and black male prototypes: How primetime network television commercials force black characters into the cultural mainstream.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2004 convention in Toronto, Canada.

Netzley, S. B., “Television viewing and attitude toward marriage: Does program genre make a difference?” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2003 convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

Netzley, S. B., “Of death and of love: Loving, losing and fearing live women in Dellamorte Dellamore.” Presented at the Midwest Popular Culture Association 2003 convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Netzley, S. B., “Grabbing a place on the totem pole: How newspaperman H. Allen Smith learned to stop worrying and love the book business.” Presented at the American Journalism Historians Association 2003 convention in Billings, Montana.

Netzley, S. B., “Marriage on television: A content analysis.” Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2002 convention in Miami Beach, Florida.

PANELS PRESENTED

“‘Dislike’: How the GLBT Community Responded to Chic-Fil-A and Other Controversies.” Part of the panel “Is Everyone Showing Up Online? A Look at Where Diversity Stands in Social Media and Other Web-Centered Media.” Boyer, L., Dixon, T., Farrier, M., Josey, C.S., Netzley, S. B., & Phillips, A. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association 2013 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Part of the Tenure and Promotion panel at the August 2012 Bradley University Annual Fall Faculty Teaching and Research Forum.

“GLBT News Sites: Empowering and Educating?” Part of the panel “Tipping Towards Online Diversity?” Bryant, A., Daniels, G., Heider, D., Netzley, S. B., & Wilkinson, J. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association 2012 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“How to make the important interesting.” Part of the panel “Religion and the Media: Effective Teaching Solutions,” Ferre, J., Hatcher, A., Landon, K., Netzley, S. B., & Vadaracco, C. Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2008 convention in Chicago, Illinois.

“More than mere Survival: Laying the groundwork for tenure and promotion during those first years of teaching.” Part of the panel “The climate for females in mass media education as they navigate promotion and tenure: Faculty share their experiences and perspectives,” Beasley, B., Bobrowicz, B., Hollerbach, K., Howard-Byrd, S., & Netzley, S. B. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association 2007 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Just the facts, ma’am:  First jobs for females in the print newsroom.” Part of the panel “Games mother never taught us, but we wish she had: Preparing female students for their first communication job,” Baldwin, T., Cochran, M., Hollerbach, K., & Netzley, S. B. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association 2005 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

Spoke about effective lecturing techniques, Bradley University New Faculty Mentorship Committee, September 2012.

Lectured on current developments in the journalism industry and led a Q&A with participants in the Bradley University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s “The Future of Journalism” trip to Chicago to tour media outlets, Nov. 12, 2009.

Served as the discussant and moderator for the Reel to Real: Focus on Film group’s showing of the Canadian film Fido, Jan. 26, 2008. Provided a brief lecture on thematic issues in the film and led a Q&A with audience members afterward.

Presented a session on interviewing techniques at the 2006 workshop for students from local high schools interested in studying journalism, organized by the Bradley University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

Freelance writer, Entertainment Weekly, New York City, New York, 2014-present

Write television show recaps and produce other entertainment-based feature articles for the Entertainment Weekly website. Also cultivate a social media presence to drive audiences to my work. Article readership typically ranges from 10,000 views to 100,000 views.

Entertainment/feature reporter, Journal Star, Peoria, Ill., 2000-2001

Produced several features a week for The Cue entertainment section and the other feature sections of the paper, wrote a column on television and radio happenings in the area, covered breaking news on the radio/television beat. Also reviewed movies, concerts and plays in the area.

Illinois Statehouse reporter, Associated Press, Springfield, Ill., 1999-2000

Covered Illinois General Assembly floor debates and committee meetings, reported on state agency news, wrote in-depth articles examining the impact of proposed legislation, served as a general assignment reporter for the Springfield area, turned print stories into radio stories for AP’s broadcast service.

Newsroom intern, The Courier, Lincoln, Ill., summer 1996, 1998, 1999

Covered police and court beats for Lincoln and Logan County, reported on school board and Lincoln City Council meetings, served as a general assignment reporter, proofread articles before they went to press.  Also wrote feature stories and opinion columns.

Editor-in-chief, managing editor, news editor, reporter,

The Trumpet, Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, 1995-1998

Moved from writing stories on a variety of beats to editing news stories for AP style, grammar, punctuation, accuracy and legality. As editor-in-chief, served as the final arbiter of content; trained reporters, editors and photographers; mentored and encouraged staff members; organized all coverage of campus and community events. Under my tenure as editor-in-chief, The Trumpet received its first Overall Excellence Award from the Society for Collegiate Journalists.

Part-time news reporter, weekend disc jockey, WPRC-AM, Lincoln, Ill., 1993-1995

Filled in as news reporter when news director was gone. Gathered, wrote and reported community news. Finalized broadcast rundowns. Recorded weather broadcasts. Filled in as on-air talent for weekday morning shows. Read obituaries and served as disc jockey for weekend morning shows.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Foundations of the Organization Ombuds course, International Ombuds Association, Oct. 16-19, 2023.

This workshop immersed new practicing organizational ombuds in the fundamentals of the organizational ombuds role based on the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, independence, and informality.

Online Course Design Institute workshop, Bradley University Center for Teaching Excellent and Learning, May 19-22, 2014.

This workshop instructed faculty on the best practices for creating online courses, from pedagogy to assessment to technical aspects of online presentation and student engagement.

Summer Grant Writing Workshop, Bradley University Office of Sponsored Programs, May 20-14, 2013.

This workshop educated faculty about the ins and outs of grant writing as well as the resources available to them on campus.

User-Friendly Multimedia Storytelling: Using Flash Interactivity workshop at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication national convention, August 2011.

This workshop helped enhance skills in interactive multimedia journalism by teaching participants how to create movie clips and buttons and how to link them to premade Flash code for interactive multimedia projects.

A New Curriculum for a New Journalism seminar at The Poynter Institute, July 2010.

This seminar gave educators insight into how to restructure a journalism curriculum based on the needs of newsrooms in the digital age. It offered case studies of successful curriculum innovation; insights into the necessary skills and tools to keep pace with changes in journalism, media and technology; and new strategies for teaching in a digital age.

Web Video Production Workshop at the Society of Professional Journalists national convention, August 2009

This workshop taught journalism educators and print journalists how to shoot and edit digital video suitable for uploading to websites. As part of the training, participants shot their own footage and had it critiqued by the instructor.

NewsTrain, sponsored by the Associated Press Managing Editors and Mid-America Press Institute, March 2009

Awarded a McCormick scholarship to the NewsTrain workshop, which was designed to teach journalism professionals and educators how to survive in an increasingly digital world. Sessions included instruction on web video, setting standards for Internet publications, interacting with readers online, and using Twitter and other social networking tools.

Teaching Fellows Workshop at the Indiana University School of Journalism, June 2005

Selected as one of 14 Teaching Fellows for the 2005 Teaching Fellows Workshop at Indiana University. Designed to instruct new educators on how to teach writing, reporting, and editing. Workshop included seminars on assignment development, syllabus writing, grading, seeking tenure, teaching diversity, classroom management, visual literacy, using technology.

GRANTS

Recipient of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts 2006 Research/Creative Activity Grant for $1,000 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 2002 – July 2004, August 2007 – July 2009, August 2011 – August 2013; August 2018-present.

Society of Professional Journalists, August 2006 – July 2011.

Broadcast Education Association, April 2005 – March 2008; April 2012-April 2013.

American Journalism Historians Associations, October 2003 – September 2004.

Popular Culture Association, October 2003 – September 2004.

CERTIFICATION

Human Research Certification, valid September 2008 – October 2014

Completed an online training course offered through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative that allows research work with human subjects. Completed a refresher course in October 2011.

SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Department

Chair, Department of Communication Search Committee – Assistant Professor of Journalism, Fall 2018.

Chair, Department of Communication Search Committee – One-Year Journalism Instructor, Spring 2018.

Chair, Department of Communication academic program review, Fall 2016 – Spring 2018.

Chair, Robison Lecture Committee, Summer 2010 – present; member, Robison Lecture Committee, Fall 2007 – Spring 2010.

Chair, Department of Communication Curriculum Committee, Fall 2011 – present.

Member, Department of Communication Personnel Committee, Fall 2012 – present.

Associate Chairperson, Department of Communication, Fall 2011 – Spring 2016.

Meet individually with prospective students and their families, 2004 – present.

Interim advisor, International Association of Business Communicators – Bradley University chapter, Fall 2017.

Represent the Department of Communication at Bradley University admissions visit days in Spring 2007 – Spring 2016.

Faculty adviser, Bradley University freshmen orientation, Summer 2012 – Summer 2016.

Chair, Department of Communication Search Committee – Assistant Professor of Journalism, Spring 2016.

Faculty representative, Department of Communication special admissions visit day, Nov. 1, 2013.

Chair, Department of Communication Search Committee – Assistant Professor of Journalism, Spring 2012 – Fall 2012.

Member, Department of Communication Ad Hoc Curriculum Committee, Fall 2012.

Chair, Journalism Curriculum Review Committee, Fall 2010 –Spring 2011.

Chair, Department of Communication Search Committee – Assistant Professor of Journalism, Fall 2007 – Spring 2010.

Member, Department of Communication Search Committee – Assistant Professor of Advertising, Fall 2010 – Spring 2011.

Reviewed resumes and gave feedback on mock interviews for students applying for internships with NBC for the Olympic Games, Spring 2011 and Spring 2013.

Proofread ComLink, the Department of Communication’s annual newsletter, May 2008 – May 2009.

Evaluated applications for the C. Joan Worley Scholarship, May 2007.

College

Member, Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts Personnel Committee, Fall 2016 – present.

Member, Department of Interactive Media Personnel Committee, Fall 2012 – Spring 2015.

Department of Communication representative, Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts Chicago Gala, Chicago, Illinois, March 2012.

Department of Communication representative, Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts High School Counselor Luncheon, St. Louis, February 2011.

Department of Communication representative, Apple Inc. Executive Briefing with the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts on the laptop initiative, Chicago, May 2010.

University

Academic Ombuds, Fall 2023-present.

Member, Intellectual and Cultural Activities Committee, Spring 2016 – present.

Member, Pre-Law Advisory Committee, Fall 2015 – present.

Member, Academic Review Board, Fall 2013 – present.

Adviser, Bradley Anime Club, Fall 2005 – present.

Member, WCBU news reporter search committee, February 2018-August 2018.

Member, WCBU search committee for membership manager, July 2016 – December 2016.

Head of the Department of Communication academic program review, Fall 2013-Spring 2014.

Member, committee to select the student commencement speaker, Spring 2012-Winter 2013.

Member, Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning’s Committee to Promote Teaching and Faculty Student Research and Creative Activity, Fall 2009 – Spring 2015.

Member, Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning’s Innovative Teaching Panel, Fall 2009 – Spring 2015.

Member, Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning’s Advisory Board, Fall 2009 – Spring 2015.

Member, Student Grievance Committee, Fall 2006 – Spring 2009.

Adviser, Bradley University Society of Professional Journalists, Fall 2006 – Spring 2011.

Adviser, Alpha Chi Omega Bradley University chapter, Fall 2007 – Spring 2008.

Profession

Member, Careers Task Force, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 2018-present.

Peer reviewing articles for the History division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s annual convention, 2014-present.

Reviewing proposals and manuscripts of journalism textbooks prior to publication for Routledge and Oxford University Press, February 2011-present.

Peer reviewing articles for the Journal of Communication, 2016.

Peer reviewing articles for New Media and Society, 2015.

Peer reviewing articles for the Journal of Homosexuality, 2010-2013.

Peer reviewing articles for Sex Roles, 2006-2010.

Community

Member, WCBU Associate Board, September 2013 – present.

Organized a group of advanced journalism students to meet with participants in a Bradley University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute study group exploring the future of journalism, Nov. 15, 2010. Engaged in a conversation with the OLLI participants on the challenges journalism faces as it evolves and embraces new technology.

Judged the writing competition at Bradley University’s 2005 high school journalism workshop.

Media Contributions

Part of a panel discussing how journalists should cover Donald Trump on Central Illinois on the Record, WMBD-TV, Dec. 4, 2016.

Quoted in the Columbia Journalism Review article “How one reporter’s beard gimmick became a useful tool for covering Illinois’ budget stalemate,” which used my expertise in political journalism, April 2016.

Quoted in the Columbia Journalism Review article “A Peoria paper is working to ‘be there’ in underserved community — without adding reporters,” which used my expertise in community journalism, September 2015.

Sole guest on a 45-minute radio program distributed by the Illinois Radio Network statewide focusing on the media’s role in the resignation of former congressman Aaron Schock, April 2015.

Quoted in the Peoria Journal Star article “Analysis: Mayor Ardis claims ‘mischaracterization’ of Twitter controversy,” which used my expertise in teaching social media to analyze Peoria’s Twitter controversy, June 12, 2014.

Quoted in the Peoria Journal Star article “Analysis: Mayor Ardis claims ‘mischaracterization’ of Twitter controversy,” which used my expertise in teaching social media to analyze Peoria’s Twitter controversy, June 12, 2014.

Featured in InterBusiness Issues magazine’s Q&A “Journalism: The Next Generation,” which focused on how the Department of Communication is changing to prepare its students for the evolving world of online media, September 2011.

Interviewed on WMBD-TV’s morning news show to discuss Katie Couric’s transition to evening news, Sept. 7, 2006.

AWARDS

The Paul B. Snider Award for Teaching Excellence in Communication, given by the Department of Communication, September 2011.

Academic Advisor of the Year, given by the Student Senate and the Office of Orientation & Advisement, May 2009.

Winner, second-place paper award in AEJMC’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group at the 2008 AEJMC convention. The award is given to the second-highest scoring paper submitted to the interest group.

Winner, top paper award in AEJMC’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group at the 2007 AEJMC convention. The award is given to the top-scoring paper submitted to the interest group.

Winner, Bradley University Blackboard Showcase Best Practices Award, May 2006.

Winner, Bradley University First Year Faculty Award for excellence in teaching, August 2005.

Winner, outstanding Mass Communication and Media Arts doctoral student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, May 2002.

Winner, outstanding Wartburg College senior in Journalism, May 1999.

Winner, outstanding Wartburg College senior in Political Science, May 1999.